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Budgie Bashers

Bashed!
By Little Eskimo
November 22 2004
It was a gloomy day in Reading followed by not too bright start. From the Newcastle kick off it looked promising with Casey taking the ball cleanly only to be hustled into touch. An exchange of set piece moves followed with Irish looking to be on top when they had their first line out on half way.
The ball was cleanly taken by JFK and passed to Casey who burst through and spread the ball out wide. Irish went through several phases with good ground made through the centre before an interception by Walder, deep in his own half, who ran the length of the field almost unchallenged for a try under the posts that was easily converted by Matt Burke for 7-0 on 5mins.

After the Irish kick off and an uninspiring kicking exchange Newcastle had the upper hand again after bursting through the gaps and gaining a scrum on the Irish 5m line. LI survived a lot of pressure at the scrum before the ball was spread wide but fine midfield defence forced a knock on. From the resultant scrum, Newcastle were then penalised for deliberately wheeling and we made a safe touch from the penalty. Through another good set of phases by Irish, Newcastle were caught offside just outside the 22m line and the kick was easily converted by Tofty. 7-3 on 12mins.

From the restart Irish were putting on good pressure particularly from the line out but the ball was eventually lost but quickly turned again before a Newcastle lineout. Newcastle then found space and kicked through but Hodgson won the race and gets the ball right on the Irish try line, scrum Newcastle. Newcastle spun the ball to the centre, again favouring Taione through this route,. A scrambled kick forward was picked up by Irish who unfortunately stepped over the dead ball line. 5m scrum Newcastle.

Paice was down injured and looked to be in some pain when he got up, but was straight back into action. A string Newcastle drive at the scrum forced a penalty, from which Newcastle opted for another scrum, but LI managed to force a turnover and Catt was able to clear.

Irish kept up good pressure in the Newcastle half and after a break by Hardwick the ball was knocked on and Newcastle regained possession. This was short lived when their clearance kick was charged down by Hodgson and followed up by Catt who claimed the try. The conversion was missed by Tofty to make the score 8-7 on 31mins.

From the restart came the now customary kicking exchange until Horak caught the ball and ran with it through the mid field and gained a penalty for Newcastle being caught off-side. The kick however had no height so the scores remained the same.

Deep into injury time after some more good pressure by Irish, Catt misses touch and, after the exchange of kicks, Guss launches one straight into the hands of Burke who makes some yards before Irish are caught offside. Burke nails the penalty to take the score to 10-8 on 41mins.
The Irish restart goes out on the full and from the scrum Newcastle drill the ball into the corner. Irish take the ball well at the line out, but it is stolen and Newcastle drive through for the try by Dowson. It is unconverted, leaving the half time score 15-8 to Newcastle.


After a less than convincing first half display, Irish got off to make a much better start and after a quickly taken penalty which made several yards through good driving Irish were awarded another penalty which was duly converted by Tofty to narrow the gap to 15-11 on 42mins.

JFK pinched a lineout but was taken out in the air and was on the ground for some time, yet the Newcastle forward was let off with a caution. Our following lineout was well taken and the ball was spun out to the mid field but Newcastle were awarded a penalty for an infringement in the ruck.

Newcastle received another penalty just on half way following a line out, but the kick was short. From the 22 drop out, the ball is charged down but it is well defended and Irish gain a lineout on half way after Walder chips the ball straight into touch. JFK takes the ball well at the back and the ball is passed out to Catt who again tries the up and under but again the ball is marked. Another kicking exchange ensues but Newcastle end up offside and the advantage returns to Irish and after an inspiring run from JFK the ball falls to Catt just outside the Newcastle 22 and he goes for the cross field kick again and once again the ball is caught for the mark, thankfully the Newcastle clearance doesn’t make much ground and Irish get a throw on the 22. JFK goes off replaced by Strudwick.

The ball is quickly recycled from the lineout and Guss makes good yards through the centre but the ball is turned over. From the scrum Newcastle drilled the ball down the middle and it is taken well by Staniforth, who makes a good run before Newcastle are again penalised for offside. The penalty is converted from right in front of the posts to make the score 15-14 on 60mins.

Newcastle make 4 changes for the restart and Irish win possession and clear touch on the Newcastle 10m line where they knock on in the lineout and from the Irish scrum the ball is quickly passed out and some good phases are put together before a knock on. Murphy goes off and is replaced by Ratty.
From a missed Newcastle penalty on 65mins because of pulling in the lineout our 22 drop out is charged down but Horak manages to clear under pressure, only for the Newcastle wing to drop the ball and give away the scrum.

Another up and under is attempted but is knocked on by our forwards when trying to take the ball on the run. Newcastle clear the ball again and, although the lineout is won, the ball is chipped aimlessly and another kicking exchange ensued until a scuffed Newcastle clearance gave Irish a Lineout on their 10m line. Several turnovers followed the lineout and although a good chase was on from a Catt kick, Burke is taken out in the air on his own 5m line and the penalty is conceded. Everitt and Mordt come on to replace Tofty and Horak. Catt moves to 15 and Barry takes over the role of fly half.

Newcastle then seemed to turn on the pressure again and spun the ball out wide and made good yards until Burke was hustled into touch on the Irish 5m line. Irish get a free kick from the lineout and Barry cleared. After another exchange of kicks, Irish get a lineout inside the Newcastle half the ball is spread wide. Irish were eventually awarded a penalty for offside, following several unsuccessful phases.

Deep into injury time Irish opt for the lineout. Barry gets into the pocket for the drop goal, but sends it just wide. From the drop out, Bish takes and makes good ground and passes to Catt who tries to find a gap but play is taken back for an earlier penalty. There is still time left so Barry drills the ball into the corner and again positions himself for the drop goal to win the match. The lineout is taken well by Casey and the drive is on. The pack thunders on and Hodgson finishes it off, to the delight of the crowd. Barry converts the kick and from the restart Irish hoof it straight out for full time.

Final score 21-15.

Paicey nominated MOTM by GG. Fine reward for a good solid game, despite being hurt early on.



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London Irish Poll

Motm : LV= A/W Cup, P2v3 M4 : Warriors v LI